On the International Day of Education, January 24, Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) highlights the contributions of its Jesuit partners in helping poor and marginalized people in the Global South to access their right to education.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where 60% of the population are under the age of 24, CJI partner Fe y Alegria supports a sustainable and equitable system in communities such as Kikwit and Kinshasa. Aside from its support for primary education, Fe y Alegria provides cultural activities, literacy groups, and training for students who have dropped out of school. It also conducts training workshops for parents, teachers, and school principals.
CJI also supports a Jesuit Refugee Service project to build schools in the DRC, including at Muja Secondary School in Nyiragongo, Kivu.
The DRC introduced free primary education in 2019, which enabled 4.5 million children to go to school. But challenges remain — schools are overcrowded, and there is a shortage of teachers. Students enrolled in primary school do not complete it, with families unable to afford school-related fees and basic needs.
Fe y Alegria also has a strong presence in the Amazon region. CJI supports its work, promoting intercultural and bilingual education and raisingawareness of ecological and social justice issues. Fe y Alegria works with Indigenous communities in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela to help them protect their natural resources and strengthen their culture and identity.
CJI shares the United Nation’s position that education is not only a right, but also “a public good and a public responsibility.” Education is essential for people to live in dignity. We all need to do what we can to ensure that education is made accessible to all.
Learn more about CJI-supported projects in education, including how you can help make a difference : https://bit.ly/4gVgPrd
